Vaginal douche



April 17, 1926. 1,666,684

H. H. CARSTENS VAGINAL DOUCHE Filed Jan. 1 1926 Patented Apr. 17, 1928.

UNITED STATES HERBERT H. CARSTENS, OF OAK PARK, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO. H. CARSTENS MFG.

PATENT OFFICE.

00., OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

,VAGINAL DOUCHE.

This invention relates to vaginal douches, and its principal object is to increase the efli-ciency of douches or syringes of this character and to simplify, strengthen and otherwise improve the construction thereof. Another object isto provide means whereby the user may readily control the operation of certain vaginal wall expanding members of the device. Another object is to provide a douche or syringe that may be used in connection with a rubber bulb or with a fountain syringe tank and its flexible tube.

Another object is to provide a douchewhich may be easily cleaned and kept in a sanitary and antiseptic condition. Other objects and advantages will appear in the'course of this specification, and with all of'said objects and advantages in View, this'invention consists in the several novel features of construction, arrangement-and combination of parts, hereinafter fully set forth and claimed. 2

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a View, partly in side elevation and partly in central, longitudinal section, illustrating a simple embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a detail, horizontal section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a detail side elevationof a certain finger actuating member forming part of the'device; Fig. 1 is a detail, horizontal section,

taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1; Fig. 5'

is a detail, side elevation, partly broken out, of a certain finger support forming part of the device, and Fig. 6 is a plan of a certain disc that forms part of the 'Jfinger support seen in Fig. 5.

Referring to said drawing, which illus trates a simple form of the present invention, the reference character 10 designates a spray tube or hollowmember, which forms the main supporting element of the device. Said tube 10 is preferably provided with perforations 11, adjacent one end and on said end is removably secured a perforated spray head 12.. The spray head is preferably formed of vulcanized rubber .or rubber composition, or other heat non-conducting material, whereby the possibilityof injury to the user from excessive heat at this flexible tube of a fountain syringe.

place is eliminated. The spray head is preferably secured to the tube 10 by a threaded connection as shown, whereby it may be readily removedtherefrom for the purpose of cleaning the parts. Any foreign substances that might collect in and clog the perforations of the tube can be punched into the tube with a pin or'otherfine object and {hpshed out through the open end of the On the other end of the tube 10, is secured a coupling 13, preferably having a threaded connection with the tube 10, and said coupling is formed with bulb and hose attaching elements 14,15, one of which 14, is designed for the attachment of a rubber bulb 16 or otherbulb device, and the other 15, is designed for the attachment of the This arrangement makes it possible to use the device with any of the commonand well known sources of supply.

'Rigidly secured on the tube '10, at a place intermediate its ends, is a finger supportmg spider 17, which is of novel construction. Referring to Figs. 4, 5 and 6, the finger supporting spider 17 Will be seen to comprise two oppositely disposed, substantially similar discs 18, 19, that may be struck up 'from'sheet metal if desired, one of salddiscshaving tongues 20 formed on its edge and adapted to be bent up and clinched over the edge of the other disc to rigidly fasten the two discs to ether. Each disc has a central hole for' t efreception of the tube'lO, and at equidistant places 'around the edge of each disc are formed pairs of parallel, spaced notches 21, in which the dilating fingers 22 are pivotally secured by a wire ring 23 which is threaded through holes or hearing apertures in the dilating fingers. The ring 23 is contained in a narrow hollow space 24 formed by and between depressed portions ofthe discs 18, 19. Thering 23 forms a common fulcrum for the several dilating fingers 22, and dispenses withthe necessity of separate rivets or pivot pins for the several dilating fingers. In assembling these partsthe dilating fingers are strung upon the ring, the ring placed in the space ,left

between the two discs, and the tongues 20 of one disc bent up over the edge of the other disc and tightly forced down thereon, thus atl'ording a very simple, yet ellective pivotal connection between the dilating fingers and their supporting element. lvloreover the edges of the slots 21 act as guides for the dilating fingers and prevent them from wabbling or tilting laterally, thus preserving them in parallel relation to the axis accon'nnodate the holes or hearing apertures.

for the lulcrumring,and on the otherside of the IfLllClLlH'l, the metal oi? the dilating linger is struck inward or toward the tube 10, to form a reentrant part 30 from which the terminal end part Ell stands at an angle to the main or straight part 25, and inclines outward or away from the tube, the terminal ends of the several fingers diverging from each other is clearly shown in Fig.

1. Normally the bowed 'lront ends 26 oil? the fingers are held in contact with the tube 10,

but they are adapted to be spread apart by suitable means will presently appear.

Improved means are provided for actuating the dilating fingers so as to spread their bowed ends apart, and said. means will now be described.

Slidably mounted on the tube 10 is a finger actuating member 32, which, shown, comprises a linger engaging plate having circumlerentially arranged equidistant holes 3 1 formed therein, through which the terminal end portion 31 of the dilating fingers ext-end. The outer edges of the holes 34 engage with the outer sides oi": said terminal end portions 31 oilthe lingers, and act, when the plate is moved in a direction away from the finger support 17, to draw the extreme ends of said terminal end parts together, thereby spreading apart the other or operative ends oi the dilating lingers, as is shown by the dotted lines in Fig. l. llinger controlled means are provided. for moving the finger actuating plate 33 axially along the tube, and said means comprise a sleeve 36, rigidly secured to the plate 33, and slidably mounted on the tube. A sleeve extension 37 is threadedly secured to the sleeve 36 and has a finger ring 38 rigidly secured thereon, which may be take hold of by the thumb or finger. Obviously, by drawing backward on the finger ring 38, the dilating fingers 22 are spread apart at their forward ends. By moving the finger rin 38 forward, or by releasing the ring and permitting the resilient small end of the cone to close, the fingers are returned to their closed position as shown by the full lines in Fig. 1. A return flow collecting chamber is provided at the rear endsof the fingers, which comprises the hollow, flexible, yielding, elas- The edge of the base portion of the cone member is reinforced by a grooved bead or run -{ll into which the edge of the disc like plate 3.9 fits. The cone member can be readily disconnected from the disc like plate, and its other end can be drawn out of the notches 01? the lingers, and the cone member can thereby be easily disconnected from the instrument for the purpose of cleaning the same.

. To provide tor a return flow, a nipple 42 tor attachment to a flexible tube or hose (not shown) is provided on the disc like base plate 39, and a cap 43, removably secured on said nipple, may be provided to close the opening in said nipple whereby the chamber may be closed against escape of medicated liquid in case that is desired.

Among the advantages of this instrument is the ease with which it may be manipulated.v The dilating fingers are under the control of the user and may be adjusted desired, and easily held many adjusted'position. Another advantage is that it can be used with or without the return flow, and with a bulb or fountain syringe tube. The cone member 28 being made of flexible,

yielding, soft rubber, it will e tlectively close the mouth of the Vagina, thereby enabling the instrument to beused lined in bed.

More or less variation of the exact details of COHStLUCtlO-Tl is possible without departing from the spirit of this invention; I ,de sire, theretore, not to limit myself to the exact form of the construction shown and described, but intend, in the following claims, to point out all of the inventiondisclosed herein.

I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In an instrument of the character deby a patient conlUU scribed, the combination with a spray tube,

of a finger supporting spider stationarily secured thereon, dilating-[fingers grouped around said tube and fulcrumed on said spider to swing in planes parallel with the axis of said tube, each finger having areariwardly and outwardly inclined, terminal end portion, .a finger actuating member slidably mounted on said tube and having openings formed therein for the reception ofsaid terminal end portion of the fingers, said memher being movable lengthwise of the tube, and the outer edges of the openings therein being adapted, when said member is moved in one direction lengthwise of the tube, to engage the inclined outer sides of said terminal end portions of the fingers and thereby spread apart the other ends of said fingers, a disc like base plate mounted on said spray tube beyond the terminal end portions of said dilating lingers, and'a finger'hold secured to said finger actuating member at a place beyond said disc like base plate.

2. In an instrument of the character described, the combination with a spray tube,

of a finger supporting spider stationarily secured thereon, dilating fingers grouped around said tube and tulcrumed on said spider to swing in planes parallel with the axis of said tube, each finger having a rearwardly and outwardly inclined, terminal end portion, a finger actuating member formed with a plate slidably mounted on said tube and having openings formed therein for the reception of said terminal end portion of the fingers, said plate being movable lengthwise of the tube, and the outer edges of the openings therein being adapted, when said plate is moved in one direction lengthwise of the tube, to engage the inclined outer sides of said terminal end portions of the fingers and thereby spread apart the other; ends of said fingers, said finger actuating member being also formed with a sleeve secured to said plate and surrounding said tube, said sleeve extending beyond the free ends of said terminal end portions of the fingers, a disc like base plate mounted on said spray tube, with said sleeve extending through the base plate, and a finger hold secured to said sleeve at a point beyond said baseplate.

3. In an instrument of the character described, the combination with a spray tube, of a finger supporting spider stationarily secured thereon, dilating fingers grouped around said tube and fulcrumed on said spider to swing in planes parallel with the axis of said tube, each finger having a rearwardly and outwardly inclined, terminal end portion on one side of its fulcrum, and a notch on the other sideot its fulcrum, a finger actuating plate slidably mounted on said tube and having openings formed therein for the receptionof said terminal end portion of the fingers, said plate being movable lengthwise of the tube, and the, outer edges of the. openings therein being adapted, when saidplate is moved -in one direction lengthwise of the tube, to engage the inclined outer sides of saidv terminal end portions of the fingers and thereby spread apart the other endsof saidv fingers, a flexible, hollow cone member sunroundi'ng therear end of said fingers and having a bead on the edge 0t its smaller end seated in the notches of the fingers, and having a grooved bead on the edge of its larger end, a disc like base plate loosely mounted on said tube with its edge engaged in said grooved bead, and a sleeve secured to said finger actuating plate and extending out through said base plate, said sleeve having a finger ring secured to it.

4. In an instrument of the character described, the combination with a spray tube, of a finger supporting spider stationarily secured thereon, dilating fingers grouped around said tube and fulcrumed on said spider to swing in planes parallel with the axis of said tube, each finger having a rearwardly and outwardly inclined,terminal end portion on one side of its fulcrum, and a notch on the other side of its'fulcrum, a finger actuating member formed with a plate slidably mounted on said tube and having openings formed therein for the reception of said terminal end portion of the fingers, said plate being movable lengthwise of the tube, and thev outer edges of the openings therein being adapted, when said plate is moved in one direction lengthwise of the tube, to engage the inclined outer sides of said terminal end portions of the fingers and thereby spread apart the other ends of said fingers, a flexible, elastic, hollow cone member surrounding the rear end of said fingers and having a bead on the edge of its smaller end seated in thenotches of the fingers, and having a grooved bead on the edge of its larger end, a disc like base plate loosely mounted on said tube with its edge engaged in said grooved bead, said finger actuating member being also formed with a sleeve secured to said finger actuating plate, and extending out through said base plate, a sleeve extension secured to the sleeve and forming a stop for said baseplate, and a finger hold secured on said sleeve extension.

5. In an instrument of the character described, a dilating finger, U-shaped in cross section, throughout its length, and formed with bearing apertures, intermediate its ends, in the two sides of the U, there being a cone engaging notch on one side of said bearing apertures, and an angularly disposed terminalend portion on the other side of said bearing apertures, substantially and for the purpose set forth.

6. In an instrument of the character described, a finger supporting spider, comprising two oppositely disposed, substantially similar discs, each formed with circumfermultiple fulcrums, the 'onedisctbeing'formed entially arranged, equidistantlyspaced pairs with tongues bent over theedge of the other 1 of notches, each pair of notches having a disc, and dilating fingers, each having tang between them and each disc being flanged portions entering a pair of said 5 formed with a circular depression, the denotches and formed with hearing apertures pression in one disc facing the one in the for the reception of the ring. other, and a ring contained in the space formed by said depressions and forming HERBERT CARSTEN'S; j 

